• Bahrain police, protesters clash in Sanabis

    Hasan Jamali / AP

    Riot police watch for Bahraini anti-government protesters, unseen, near tire fires set by protesters in Sanabis, Bahrain, Oct. 5, 2012. Riot police used water cannons and tear gas on Friday to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters trying to reach a heavily guarded site that was once the hub of their uprising.

    Associated Press reports — Riot police in Bahrain used water cannons and tear gas on Friday to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters trying to reach a heavily guarded site that was once the hub of their uprising.

    The demonstrators marched toward Pearl Square in Bahrain's capital, Manama, after a funeral procession for a protester who died in custody. The government said the man died of a blood disease.

    An Associated Press photographer said the demonstrators hurled firebombs and rocks at troops about 700 meters from Pearl Square, where crowds gathered in Feb. 2011 as the Arab Spring-inspired uprising erupted in the Gulf nation.

    Bahrain's majority Shiites seek greater rights in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet. At least 50 people have died in nearly 20 months of unrest.

    Dozens of opposition leaders have been jailed, including human rights activist Nabeel Rajab whose family said he began a hunger strike Friday.

    Rajab was temporarily freed from prison this week to attend his mother's funeral, but the furlough was cut short after he delivered a speech urging for protests to continue.

    Learn more about Bahrain

    Hasan Jamali / AP

    Bahraini anti-government protesters throw petrol bombs at a police water cannon truck during clashes with riot police in Sanabis, Bahrain, Oct. 5.

    Hasan Jamali / AP

    Bahraini anti-government protesters throw bottles of paint and petrol bombs at a police water cannon truck during clashes in Sanabis, Bahrain, Oct. 5.

    Hasan Jamali / AP

    Bahraini anti-government protesters carry crates of homemade paint and petrol bombs into clashes with riot police in Sanabis, Bahrain, Oct. 5.

    •Sign up for the NBCNews.com Photos Newsletter

  • Rioters clash with police in Bahraini village

    AFP / Getty Images

    A masked Bahraini Shiite Muslim boy stands in the street during clashes with riot police following a demonstration in the village of Belad al-Qadeem, south of Manama, on April 12. Protesters are against the Formula One race taking place on April 22, and in solidarity with Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja, a prisoner who went on hunger strike 64 days ago.

    Recent blog about protest over Formula One race

    •Sign up for the msnbc.com Photos Newsletter

  • Bahrain police break up opposition protest in capital

    Hasan Jamali / AP

    Bahraini anti-government protesters face off with riot police on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, in Ma'ameer, Bahrain.

    Hasan Jamali / AP

    A Bahraini anti-government protester throws a tear gas canister back toward riot police who fired it on Thursday.

    Mazen Mahdi / EPA

    Riot policemen open fire on pro-reform protesters in Maamer village south east of the Bahraini capital Manama on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012.

    Mazen Mahdi / EPA

    Pro-reform protesters take cover from tear-gas fired by police in Maamer village south east of the Bahraini capital Manama on Thursday.

    Caren Firouz / Reuters

    An anti government protester holds a molotov cocktail and rocks during clashes with police after the funeral of Abdul Ali Abdullah in Ma'ameer on Thursday.

    Reuters reports: MANAMA — Anti-government protesters clashed with Bahraini police in Manama on Thursday, a rare protest in the capital as majority Shi'ite Muslims try to sustain pressure for more reforms ahead of the February 14 anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising.

    Groups of police on foot chased youths through the neighborhood, with police firing tear gas, sound bombs and rubber bullets and youths throwing stones and some petrol bombs. On a stormy evening, the wind blew most of the gas away.

    "You mercenaries, get out of the country, you dogs!" one old man shouted after a patrol that passed through the alleys. Shi'ites say the government uses foreign police hires, mainly from Pakistan, who they face in clashes.

     

     

  • Bahrain: the death of Abdul Redha Mohammed Hassan

    John Moore / Getty Images

    Family members look upon the body of anti-government protester Abdul Redha Mohammed Hassan, 32, in the Salmaniya Hospital in Manama after he died of his wounds on Feb. 21. He had been shot in the head when Bahraini security forces attacked anti-government demonstrators in Pearl Square last week.

    John Moore / Getty Images

    Ali Mohammed, 6, rides next to the body of his father Abdul Redha Mohammed Hassan during his funeral procession on Tuesday, Feb. 22 in Malkiya, Bahrain.

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

     View more images from Bahrain in our updated slideshow.

  • In Bahrain, ongoing protest in Pearl Square is countered by pro-regime rally

    John Moore / Getty Images

    Hoor Hussain, 6, holds a poster with other anti-government protesters at the Pearl roundabout on Feb. 21 in Manama, Bahrain. Demonstrators continue to fill the square in a daily protest while opposition leaders hold talks with the government on the weeklong uprising.

    John Moore / Getty Images

    Jaffar Sultan is congratulated by his sister Miriam after his wedding ceremony in front of thousands of anti-government protesters at the Pearl roundabout on Feb. 21. As per Bahraini custom, the bride was not present for the public ceremony.

    John Moore / Getty Images

    Children sit with fellow anti-government protesters at the Pearl roundabout on Feb. 21.

    John Moore / Getty Images

    Tens of thousands of pro-government supporters gather for a demonstration at the Al Fateh mosque on Feb. 21 in Manama. The event was designed to counter the anti-government protests at the Pearl roundabout.

    Hassan Ammar / AP

    Bahraini pro-government protesters shout slogans as an one holds up a picture of the Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during a march supporting the Bahraini leadership in Manama on Feb. 21.

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

     Read about all the developments in Bahrain today here.

  • Protesters' camp in Bahraini capital stormed by riot police

    Tony Mitchell / AP

    In this image from video riot police firing tear gas and wielding clubs storm an anti-government protesters' camp in Pearl Square, Manama before dawn on Feb. 17.

    Hamad I Mohammed / Reuters

    Tents at Pearl Square are cleared of protesters, several hours after riot police attacked in the early hours of Feb. 17.

    Mazen Mahdi / EPA

    Medics attend to a victim of clashes between demonstrators and police arriving at Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain, early on Feb. 17.

    Hassan Ammar / AP

    An anti-government demonstrator shows a cell phone picture of a wounded man who she said was injured during the riot police attack on Pearl Square early on Feb. 17.

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

    AP reports:

    Armed patrols prowled neighborhoods in Manama, Bahrain and tanks appeared in the streets for the first time Thursday after riot police with tear gas and clubs drove protesters from a main square where they had demanded sweeping political change in this tiny kingdom. Medical officials said four people were killed.

    Police cars with flashing blue lights encircled Pearl Square, the site of anti-government rallies since Monday. Barbed wire was set up on streets leading to the square, where police cleaned up flattened protest tents and trampled banners. The Interior Ministry declared the protest camp "illegal" and warned Bahrainis to stay off the streets.

    Full story here.